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Contents: Georgetown Utility Systems
***** MARK YOUR CALENDARS -
JANUARY 14, 2009 - 5:30 PM - THE MARK YOUR CALENDARS -
JANUARY 14, 2009 - 5:30 PM - THE OAKS Don't forget our next Social is coming up right after the New
Year. This will be an excellent time to meet and greet our new members
and mingle with the oldies. Please note the time change.
Georgetown Utility Systems (GUS) The Georgetown Utility
Systems (GUS) Department is responsible for Utility and Transportation System
Operations, Maintenance, Capital Construction, and Solid Waste Services
within the Georgetown Utility Service Areas within the City limits and Extra
Territorial Jurisdiction (FTJ). An
example of an ETJ is the Outlet Mall.
Georgetown supplies the electricity to the Mall at a profit to the
city though the Mall is located within the City limits of Round Rock. In many cities the
Department providing the functions of GUS is called the Department of Public
Works. GUS has a broader
responsibility. Purchase of
electricity for resale to customers account for 60% of the $69,017,186 GUS
budget. Water contracts are the second
largest budget category with 8% of the budget. The remainder of the budget is divided
among fourteen other City functions. The Administration Department coordinates andassembles information
for preparing the Annual Operating Plan or City Budget. It also provides background, research
information, and oversight to the following boards:
Business Operations primary functions are:
o Power supply o Water supply o Solid waste o Operations and
Maintenance
GUS Paralegal deals mainly with
Right of Way/Easement acquisition, real estate matters and general municipal
law. Other legal services are
provided under contracts with entities outside the City. Transportation Services manages, maintains and repairs City streets and
rights-of-way. Curb, gutter, and
sidewalk repair are included in the Department's responsibility. Currently, maintenance of signs and City traffic signals are also
maintained by the City. Now the Street
Department maintains only signals located in the City on City streets and
property. When Georgetown reaches
50,000 in population, the State will require the City to maintain all signals
within the City limits. The result
will be a significant expansion in the number of signals to maintain and
repair. The City Council has
mandated that preventive maintenance be a major emphasis of the Street
Department so that the infrastructure remains in sound condition. A ¼ cent City sales tax was approved by
voters to help fund the preventative maintenance program. Environmental Services was created in
October of 2006 to oversee the compliance with the Texas Commission
Environmental Quality (TCEQ). The
department works with the solid waste contractor implement educational
programs on recycling. In addition to
curb side collection, bulky items can be taken to the collection station on
Walden Drive. Residents must bring a
utility bill with them to prove residency Hazardous wastes such
as paints, herbicides, pesticides, mercury thermostats and thermometers must
be taken to Williamson County Recycle Center (WCRC) at 495 County Road
156. The WCRC is seven miles northeast
of Georgetown. You can also take
E-waste, computers, monitors, TVs, and VCRs to the WCRC. You will need a City-issued voucher for
no-cost disposal. The voucher is
available at the Collection Station at 250 W.L. Walden Drive, Georgetown
Municipal Complex 300-1 Industrial
Drive or on line at www.municipalonlinepayments.com if you have signed up for
online payment. You will have to
provide a utility bill to prove you are a Georgetown resident to get the
voucher. GUS has very complex
responsibilities. This summary covers
only Session 1of the Department's function.
Watch for coverage next week of Energy Services, Engineering Services
and Water/Wastewater Services.
Georgetown's government and services are far more complex than meets
the eye of a casual observer. You can forward this
message with a personal touch by clicking on the Forward email below. |
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